RANGERS midfielder Ryan Jack was not surprised Aberdeen supporters singled him out for jeering when he made his Scotland debut at Pittodrie, but he insisted the antics of the minority did not spoil the occasion which was the highlight of his career.

One could not have blamed Jack if it had. An Aberdeen boy, the midfielder first joined his local club at the age of eight, graduating from their academy and breaking into the club’s first team in 2010 on the path to eventually becoming captain. 

On his first return to Pittodrie since calling time on his 17 years there and moving to Ibrox, a small element of the home crowd in Scotland’s match against the Netherlands booed his every touch as he slotted in at right-back. It was a mindless act that continued for much of the game, despite the 25-year-old turning in an accomplished performance.

“It’s part and parcel of football and that doesn’t bother me at all,” said the Rangers player. “I got booed coming in off the bus and you get booed when you get the ball. But look, we’re up in Aberdeen, the majority are Aberdeen fans that are here supporting Scotland – I knew that before the game.

“I just want to concentrate on my football and make the most of my first cap for my country.

“It’s not me that makes that decision, people just express how they feel and I just need to deal with that.

“[Was I surprised by it?] No, not at all. You deal with it, you concentrate fully on the game. I knew it was my first cap and I wanted to make the most of the whole week and make the most of the game. Anything other than that I wasn’t interested in.

“To be honest, during the game I don’t really take notice of anything that’s happening apart from what’s on the pitch. Obviously when I had a throw-in on the far side [I became aware] but look, it’s part of football and I just wanted to enjoy my first cap for my country and that’s what
I certainly did.”

It could have made for a difficult evening for Jack after what has been a far from smooth transition to life as a Rangers player. Making his debut in Europa League qualifying on June 29, he was involved in a 1-0 win over Progres Niederkorn which was the biggest of red herrings, the events in Luxembourg the following week providing the trigger to Pedro Caixinha’s downfall.

Disappointing results in the league and an inconsistent run of form then followed, with Rangers yet to win three games on the trot. Jack has arguably been Caixinha’s most consistent new recruit with a run of 16 games demonstrating that, but it is still far from the dream start the central midfielder was surely hoping for when he swapped Aberdeen for Govan.

“I think I’ll always strive to be better, it doesn’t matter if I’m doing excellent or not doing so well, I’ll always strive to do better,” he said.

“It’s no doubt that’s in me – I’ve had that my whole career since I’ve been a professional. I’ve always come in every day, whatever game I play, I always strive to do better, strive to shut people up that doubt you and that’s what I’m about.

“I’ve got good people around me, I’ve got a close-knit family and I’ve got my wife and daughter away from the pitch that are always around me and keeping me going.

“That’s what you do it for, you do it for your family, you do it for yourself and you do it for your fans.

“There are times in life you always need it [support], it’s not just when you’re playing football. There are times you need your family and I know for a fact when I do need them, and I need my friends, they are always there.

“So I’m just wanting to enjoy winning my first cap. I’ve made my debut for my country and I’m delighted with that.

“As a player it’s not gone the way that I’d planned but that’s part and parcel of the game.

“This is probably the proudest moment of my career. Right now I’m just delighted to have got my cap and hopefully I can build on that and go back to my club, start doing really well and hopefully I can get the nod again when the next squad is announced.”